Our Ladies Tea in May

Every May around Mother's Day we have a tea of some sort. This years was Divine Design. Each group of mothers and daughters designed the table theme that they drew at the Ladies Meeting - ours was Wedding.

Our Year in Review

This year of 2010 has been one filled with many things. So many things happened this year that our family has come to know God in a whole new way. The following are pics of our exciting year. Hope you enjoy.

Anna's Song

Sometimes the sweetest worship comes from our children. In their innocence they are uninhibited by legalism, peer pressure, or religious standards. They simply look at God for who He says He is and accepts that as the truth of the matter. They do not question His greatness, His power, His authority, His workmanship. To them He is the I AM! They do not wonder how He came to be, or why He is - they just accept that HE IS! They do not look around to see who is watching, they do not wonder what others may think, they do not hold back - - they come boldly. The trust completely, and find complete joy in His presence, unchecked communion with God himself. And I believe He delights in them. O, that for a moment we could go back - or better yet move forward - past the legalism, the standards the religion that binds us, past our perception of what others might think, back to the basics of unrestrained, pure worship before the Lord.

Anna sang this song around our home for weeks in May 2005 (she would have been 4 years old at the time). She called it Up to God. Finally one day I wrote the words down in my bible:

God's looking down at me
I Sing praises up to God
God is my heart song, is in my soul
God sent his son,
He died on the cross
So I sing praises up to God
If you look up to God
You can sing praises
Whatever song he puts in your heart
I sing praises up to God
I sing praises in my heart
I sing praises up to God!

BROKEN BOW, OKLAHOMA..FALL 2009

By: Anna Grace Riddle - 8 years old My family and me always go to Broken Bow. We always have fun. We like to ride on the train and we get to see deer. We like to play in the water. It is so much fun to have a family that wants to do so much stuff with you. We also have fun when we go to Bro Jimmy's cabin because we sometimes see deer. We like to go to the restaraunt at the park because if you put a fry on the rail a squirel or big bird will come eat it. In the museum is really, really cool. We like to play in the old mail house. There is a creek no to far from it, sometimes we walk down there and play in it and find diamond rocks. One time when we went there I was picking up rocks following my daddy and I found this black thing that looked like a rock in a tree stump and I almost picked it up. I ran to my daddy to show him what it was. He threw a rock at it and it jumped. It was a snake. The end. By Anna

Our trip to Jacksonville Seminary and Caddo Lake

It was fun to ride in the canoe and splash water on eachother. To drive around and get ice cream. I liked going to the seminary then to Caddo Lake and spend time with family. Thank you God for giving me the time with my family, bless your name. It was fun to be in the same water with gators and my family. I can't wait to go on the steamboat this summer. I liked the hodge podge boat house. Thank you God for all your creation. By Chase Ryan -6years old

Little Brother from a 9 year old's view

When I was 4 I always imagined it would be cool to have a little brother. I was right! My little brother is cool in many ways. I know we fight, but we always make up. I love my little super wonder of a brotehr! Thanks to GOD who made him.
Blaine Austin :)

DAVID LIVINGSTONE

In Faith Girls i learnd about David Livingstone. He went to Australia to make maps of Australia. David was also a doc. and a explorer he also told people about God. David had to fight tribs[nasty] lions, and diseases but did that stop him no. So in Faith Girls we made 4four crafts and we also made pizza. So i may have told u have of it but i forgot some stuff, so i only told u what i rembered. so maybe u could find a book about him. Oh i can't forget my teacher Mrs. Marni, she is a good teacher in Faith Girls. Anna Grace Riddle age8

A Psalm of God's Creation by Rocky

How God made the Earth. It's so Good God made the earth. It's shaped like a big blueberry and I love how God made me a little sister like Rachel. Because Rachel is so cute. I have fun with my sisters and brother. I like how God made my sisters and brother and how God made my mom and dad. I like how my mom lets us sleep with her some nights and she's nice about it.
It feels good about how God died on the cross and died for my sins. I like that he gave me a house and clothes and shoes. I like how he paid the price for my sins and we were all sinners.
Thank you God for my sister like Anna and Rachel and a brother like Justin. Justin is always a good brother to play with me. He is good a wrestling. Anna is good at english, reading and writing. I am good at math.
Thank you God for letting it snow. Thank you for all the good plants. Thank you for giving a house and food and I like how I have a family. It feels with good with a family. To be able to sleep in a bed and be able to eat.
Thank you for Jesus for letting me have a family where my mom can stay at home and we don't have to daycare and public school.
I like how God made my family and the animals. He can do all things - and we can do all things in God's strenght, love, hope.
Thank you God for my blueberry earth - it feels good to be on it.
WRitten by Chase "Rocky" Ryan Riddle
PS God bless Ya'll - - BYE!

My Sister's 2nd Birthday: The Valentine Baby

On sunday the 14th, Valentines Day, was my baby sister Rachel's 2nd birthday. When my mom put down Rachel's birthday cake on the table she would never leave her chair because she was so anxious to eat the cake. After we had cake we sat at the table and talked. Then we opened the presents, and my 3 year old brother Justin opened the first present. I wrote my sister a card that said "I'm so glad you are my sister. I had always wanted a little baby sister. Then I had two brothers. Then God gave me a little sister, she was my Valentine gift. Then I knew that God always knew I wanted a little sister. She's the best little sister I would ever want to have and I would never trade her in the world. I love her to the stars and moon and all the way back". She really is the best little sister I love her so much.
Written by Anna

From Christian Life Reader Lesson XIII

A BOOK REPORT BY ANNA:
"Honour Thy Father and Mother"

"Honour thy father and monther; which is the first commandment with promise. - Ephesians 6:2

In todays lesson I learned that I should obey my mom and dad right away when they tell me to do something. IF I say "no' or "I don't want to" I'll get in trouble. The story was about Marion and Harry. Harry wanted to go to the park and Marion couldn't because her mom didn't think there would be any adults. Harry tried to talk her into go, but Marion said no that she ought not to go because it was her mother's orders. That means I can't obey my mom and dad I can't obey God when he asks me do something. So we should always obey and do everything immediately when told. ---Anna, age 8 --- GOD LOVES YOU!

Wiggly Piggly Loosy Thoothy - My First Loose Tooth!

I liked it how God made our teeth and thank you for lettig us have loose teeth. While I was reading my book I was touching my teeth with my tounge. I found one that was loose - now I get to say "Hi" to the tooth fairy! I like how it feels when it wiggles. God is good to me to let me have a loose teeth. -----Chase, "Rocky" 6 years, old.

More Snow Pictures ---Oh to be a kid again!

Out in God's Creation

A Mom's view of her kids

I watched in delighted amazement as my children took in the falling snow this morning. Their excitement was contagious as the first flurries began to fall from a white sky. God had heard their prayers to actually see snow! We had been up north to Little Rock, AR only a day before and seen snow on the ground, but this was the first time they had seen it fall from the heavens. They were impressed the day before with snow, but this was different. Things are always different when you see them happening first hand and not just the after effects. That's how it is with God - to get the full amazing blessing is to see a change happen, to stand in the middle of his awesome presence and be invited to see a miracle. Whether that miracle be a changed life, or the changing seasons, or the changing weather. In a matter of hours the once bare ground was blanketed with soft snow. The trees that were naked before stood clothed in white majesty. What was bare and stark was made beautiful and white. So it is with our lives when we are conformed to His image, changed, transformed into a new creation. The children ran out, trying to catch the snow flurries on their tounges - - not willing to miss a single moment of God's miracle. Excited at the wonderland being created for them, while adults around the area probably grumbled about the the inconvenience, the cold, the wet and covered roads. All my kids could see was that God was doing something great for them. To be a child again - to stop and enjoy for a moment what God is doing, this divine appointment to join him as he changes the world for just a little while. Pick up a snowball, fall and make a snow angel, dance and be happy. Let this snow be a miracle for you today also. Their giggles, and excitement will last a lifetime in my memories...how they just new in their little hearts that God was doing this just for them because they had prayed for the snow to come home with them!

Awana - T-N-T: What I learned

We learned in Awana that we should always follow our blueprints. Like, our story about a boy who woke up in the morning and the sun was shining on a big tree in the backyard. So he got dressed and brushed his teeth and ran downstairs to eat. Then he saw his dad come downstairs. The boy was in a hurry to go outside to build his tree house. Then his dad's boss called....He had to go to work to fix the computer. The boy was dissapointed. The dad told him to go sort the wood and tools. He went to do what dad told him to do. He rolled out the blueprints, he thought it looked easy. He tried to do it himself, and then he saw that his tree house did not look like the blueprints. His dad came home and when he saw what the boy had done he looked angry. He told the boy he should have waited. The boy said I am sorry - and the dad forgave him.
I learned that when we are told to do something we need to do what we are told so we do not mess up and do something we should not do.
My blueprint is obey my parents and to do what God tells me to do. I pray to God and read the bible so I can know what God wants me to do and not do my own thing.
Anna - Age 8 years old

My First Snow from a boy's eye view

I was impressed by the way it felt, how soft it was. It was kind how God made it. It was fun to get to play around in it and actually get to touch it. To feel the snow sprinkles in your mouth, to get to have a snowball fight. Thank you God for making the snow. It's fun to get to see and touch it. It feels like awesome to touch God's creation, it feels like goodness. It looks so white. I am thankful God gave us the earth and snow and winter - and summer and fall. The seasons are great. Thank you God for the snow and the good day. God is awesome in his ways and his doings, he's just an awesome God! It is great to have a family to spend time with in the snow. We had a snowball fight, we made snow angels, and rode our bikes. It's great to be with my family in the snow. --- Chase, "Rocky" age 6years.

What I learned about Hudson Taylor

I learnd about Hudson Taylor in awana. When Hudson Taylor was little his dad told him that someone would go to china to be a missionary. When he got biger he found out that "someone" was him. So Hudson Taylor began to learn the language. then he went to china.
Anna

My First Snow from an 8 year old's view

I have always wanted to see snow. God blessed me when he made it snow today. It made me feel happy and feel like he loves me. It was fun to have a snowball fight with Rocky and to make my first snow angels. Later I want to make a snowman. The trees are covered in the snow, it is so pretty falling everywhere. God couldn't pick a better day than today! - - -ANNA